The Facts: The pressure's on at training camp, and Coates knows it. The Steelers' wide receiver room will be deep when camp kicks off July 28. At least nine receivers are capable and the Steelers can't keep that many. When asked about the competition among the receivers, Coates might as well have taken a boxer's stance. "It's going to be like that until we get to camp -- it's going to be a good fight," said Coates earlier this month. "It's a great room, great guys. There will be competition all year."
Diehards Line:
And, as ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler notes, a spotlight will be on Coates, who flashed big-play ability early in 2016 with one catch of at least 40 yards in four straight games. Then he broke his fingers in Week 5 while diving for a ball, which appeared to affect his confidence catching the ball. He failed to catch more than one pass in any of the final 11 regular-season games. Coates also battled a groin injury that was not made public during the year but required offseason surgery. Coates is a good special-teamer and still has the athleticism that made him a third-round draft pick out of Auburn in 2015. But he's got work to do to ensure a role. And until he does that, fantasy owners shouldn't get too far in front on this one.